Calcutta house surrounded by a garden with tank and out-houses

Watercolour of a Calcutta house by Shaikh Muhammad Amir of Karraya (fl.1830s-40s), c. 1845.

Shaikh Muhammad Amir of Karraya was one of the most prolific Calcutta artists producing work for the British in the 1830's and 40's. The East India Company was influential on Indian culture and a new painting style developed in response to the tastes and influences of the British serving with the East India Company. Company painting first emerged in Murshidabad in the second half of the 18th century. It is a style of miniature painting that subsequently spread to other British centres. This drawing shows a Calcutta house surrounded by a garden with a tank and several other buildings associated with the complex. Calcutta was known as the 'City of Palaces' and there was a large British community who were building houses similar in style to the one shown here. Popular areas for British residents in Calcutta were Chowringee and Garden Reach.